Gilding

Regency Mantel Mirror

Client

Project Description

SOME OF THE COLUMNS WERE BADLY DAMAGED AS WELL AS THE ACANTHUS LEAFS LOCATED AT THE TOP OF EACH COLUMN. WE FIRST CLEANED MUCH OF GILT METAL AND THEN WENT ABOUT CASTING SOME OF THE EXISTING DECORATION. WE USED THESE CASTS AS MOULDINGS FOR THE MISSING SECTIONS. GESSO WAS POURED INTO EACH CAST, THESE SECTIONS WERE THEN SECURED TO THE MIRROR.

GILDING WAS THEN UNDERTAKEN, BOLE WAS APPLIED TO THE GESSO TO CREATE A BED AND THE GOLD LEAF WAS THEN APPLIED. EACH NEW SECTION WAS AGED TO TONE DOWN THE SHEEN USING A SIZE.